What was once viewed earlier in the year as a positive year for
the Dow is currently negative to date. I am reminded lately by
traders and a myriad of articles that typically the year before
an election year is the strongest of a 4-year presidential term.
On average (based on data going back to 1933), the Dow
Jones Industrial Average gains 10.40% during pre-election years.
So far, we are facing negative growth during a pre-election year
which would mark the first time this has happened since 1939,
according to the traders almanac. However, the year is
not over until, as they say, the "fat lady sings." It is the
general sentiment amongst the trading community that we will
rally into the close of the year. We shall see if it is enough to
reverse the fortunes of the Dow.

Now there's no strong fundamental underpinning
of so-called "Election Cycle" analysis of the stock market,
but this is still a thing folks out there are paying
attention to.

For better or worse.

On Friday, the Dow was up about 130 points and higher for the
third straight day, though the index was still below the level
where it was ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest-rate
announcement last Wednesday.

But overall investors and traders waiting for the "Santa Claus"
rally to materialize, as the final 15 trading days of the year
are higher about two-thirds of the time, according to data from
Bespoke.